Orthodox Thought for the Day

ORTHODOX THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Love your neighbor as yourself

Suppose there are two ladders, one going upwards to heaven, and
the other leading down to hell.You are
standing on the earth between the two ladders.You would not reason it all out and say, “How can I fly from the earth
and be once and for all on the top of the ladder?”This is impossible and God does not ask it of
us, but He does ask that we meanwhile keep from going downwards, and do not
harm our neighbor nor offend him…nor demean him. And so at last we begin to do a little good
and are of help to him in speech, and bear with him, and if he needs something
give it to him freely, so we go up one rung at a time until finally, with God’s
help, we reach the top of the ladder.For through this repeated coming to your neighbor’s rescue, you come to
long for what is advantageous for him as well as advantageous for
yourself.This is “love your neighbor as
yourself.”If we seek, we shall find:
and if we ask God, He will enlighten us.

1 comment:

Definition of chosen: Those who are eligible or suited for election. Elected and chosen are synonymous.

WHO ARE THE CALLED?

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Every person who has heard the gospel has been called. The call is not limited to a select few who have been predestined for salvation.

WHO ARE THE CHOSEN (THE ELECTED)?

The chosen are the ones who are obedient to the call of the gospel. The chosen are those who have 1. Faith: John 3:16

The chosen are those who 2. Repent: Acts 3:19 (Repent means to make the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God).

The chosen are those who 3. Confess: Roman 10:9-10

The chosen are those who are 4. Baptized in water: Acts 2:38

The chosen are not those who were supposedly, unconditionally selected for salvation. The chosen have to be suited for election.

THE CALLED WHO ARE NOT CHOSEN.

Matthew 22:2-3 "the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3 And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come.

Many have had the gospel preached to them, but of their own free-will have rejected the call. If men reject the gift of eternal life by rejecting Jesus as Lord and Savior; then they have been called, but not chosen.

Matthew 22:11-14 "But when the king came to look over the dinner quests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?" 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called but few are chosen."

This wedding quest was disinvited. He was called but not chosen ; because he was not suitable to be chosen. Improper clothing was a big deal.

Galatalians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

DO YOU HAVE THE PROPER WEDDING CLOTHES TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

When you stand before the KING OF KINGS are you going to be speechless when He asks; where are your wedding clothes? WHAT WILL YOU SAY WHEN HE ASKS YOU WHY YOU REJECTED IMMERSION IN WATER FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS. WHAT WILL YOUR ANSWER BE, WHEN JESUS ASKS YOU WHY YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITH BEING CLOTHED IN CHRIST?

MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN! YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http//:steve-finnell.blogspot.com

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When, on a clear autumn night, I gaze at the clear sky - sown with numberless stars, so diverse in size yet shedding a single light - then I say to myself: 'Such are the writings of the Fathers!' When, on a summer day, I gaze at the vast sea - covered with a multitude of diverse vessels with their unfurled sails like white swan's wings, vessels racing under a single wind to a single goal, to a single harbor - I say to myself: 'Such are the writings of the Fathers!' When I hear an harmonious, many-voiced choir, in which diverse voices - in elegant harmony - sing a single Divine song, then I say to myself: 'Such are the writings of the Fathers! St. Ignatius Brianchaninov